DT Curriculum Statement

Introduction:

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

Aims- The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
• critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others

Primary

DT is incorporated into cross curricular topics alongside, Geography, History and Art. Through a variety of creative and practical activities students are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. Through the subject content within the cross curricular topics students focus on; design, making, evaluating and development of their technical knowledge. The keys skills focused on affords the students the opportunity to experiment with different design techniques creatively; To realise designs through making skills and to reflect on how to improve products. 

Key Stage 1

Each term there is a different focus through the topics covered, for example; in term 1 (Weather Experts, Oceans and Seas) students use a range of materials creatively to design and make products and they begin to design functional products for themselves. In term 2 (Nurses and Childhood) students use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination. In term 3 (Local Area and Africa) students begin to select from different materials and use them in their work, Term 4 (Fire of London Changes in Living Memory) students will begin to communicate their design ideas through discussion. In term 5 (We are Britain and Coasts) students communicate their ideas through drawing and in term 6 (WW1, Castles and Knights) students will focus on evaluating their ideas against a given criteria.

Key Stage 2

In LKS2 DT is again delivered through cross curricular topics within two cycles, cycle A and cycle B. Students will begin to explore and evaluate existing products. They will also describe what they think about their own and others work, moving on to focus on making, through the building of structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable. Levers, sliders, wheels and axles are explored through the use of mechanisms in their products.

In UKS2 throughout cycle A and cycle B students begin to research and develop design criteria to inform the design on innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose. Students design as individuals and within groups and begin to select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials and textiles. As they move towards the end of key stage 2 students will start to generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design in readiness to prepare them for DT within KS3.  

Key Stage 3:

Year 7

Students will learn to use a wide range of tools and equipment safely and accurately. They will research and evaluate familiar products and understand user needs and wishes. They will learn sketching skills and techniques to enable them to communicate their ideas more clearly. They will make small practical items such as wooden picture frames, a wooden pencil box with acrylic lid; a 3D card money box and Steady Hand Game which combines a vacuum formed base with other resistant materials and using simple electronic circuits. They will test products and ideas and learn how to make judgments of quality based on their own criteria.

Year 8 (Cycle A)

Students will build on their experiences in year 8 and increase their knowledge of health & safety in the workshop. They will use a range of resistant materials to manufacture a small moving toy with CAMs and levers. They will continue to practice sketching skills and will begin to draw in 3D using isometric templates and guides. They will use Computer Aided Design (CAD) to develop their drawing skills further. They will test and evaluate more unfamiliar products and will learn how to make judgements based on the needs of other users as well as their own requirements.

Year 9 (Cycle B)

Students will consolidate their studies. They will become highly familiar with all of the workshop equipment and will learn how to use the machines for more demanding and complex tasks. They will increase their knowledge of resistant materials and should be able to select the correct materials for a project based on a set of criteria. They will make a small bespoke storage device of their own design for a specific need. They will focus on accuracy and quality in making as well as using more intricate methods of construction.